Lightbridge Academy is targeting Richmond, Virginia for greater state expansion and has plans to open two new centers in the city within a year.

“We seem to be making progress with two potential sites,” Mele told the Richmond Times-Dispatch. “If we can get the leases signed ... we are looking at a potential opening later this fall, or it if gets backed up because of permit approvals or things like that, it could be spring of 2018.”

Lightbridge Academy was founded in 1997 and currently has 27 locations, with plans to open 16 new locations just this year. The initial investment to open a Lightbridge Academy is an estimated $700,000 with a franchise fee of $60,000.